HARRY HUGHES, Governor                               3665

EXECUTIVE ORDER OF JULY 25, 1980

01.01.1980.11

INFORMATION PRACTICES COMMISSION

WHEREAS, The Constitutions of Maryland and of the United
States guarantee a fundamental right of privacy under
certain circumstances; and

WHEREAS, There must be a reasonable balance between an
individual's right of privacy and the public's right to
be informed; and

WHEREAS, A society founded on democratic values necessarily
requires governmental openness and accountability; and

WHEREAS, It is well recognized that in an age of computers
there are contrasting dangers of overexposing personal
information and underexposing information that should
be made public; and

WHEREAS, State government must seek a proper balance
between the individual right of personal privacy, the
practices of public organizations in accumulating,
maintaining and disseminating information about people,
and the need of the public to be informed;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, HARRY HUGHES, GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND, BY
VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE
CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF MARYLAND, DO HEREBY
PROMULGATE THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE ORDER, EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATELY:

1.   The Information Practices Commission is
hereby created.

2.   The Commission consists of thirteen members
appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be a
member of the House of Delegates, one of whom
shall be a member of the Senate, one of whom
shall represent the Department of Personnel, one
of whom shall represent the Comptroller of the
Treasury, one of whom shall represent the
Department of General Services, one of whom shall
represent the Attorney General's Office, and
seven public-at-large members. The Governor
shall designate a chairperson from among the
thirteen members.

3.  The Commission shall conduct a thorough study
of policies and procedures regarding the
collection, maintenance, use, security,
dissemination, and destruction of personal